One-on-one English tutoring
and cultural mentoring
Like all women, immigrant women
are at high risk for domestic violence,
perhaps even higher.
However, due to their immigration
status, they may face a more
difficult time escaping abuse.
Immigrant women often
feel trapped in abusive relationships
because of immigration laws,
language barriers, cultural influences,
social isolation, and lack of
financial resources.
Furthermore, abusers of immigrant
victims often have additional power
over their victims by:
~ Preventing the victim from
learning English or communicating
with friends, family or others
from their home countries
~ Threatening deportation or
withdrawal of petitions for legal
status.
~ Destroying legal documents
or papers needed in this country
such as passports, resident cards,
health insurance or driver’s licenses
~ Withdrawing or not filing
papers for residency
~ Lying by threatening that
the victim will lose their citizenship
or residency if they report the
violence.
~ Getting the victim fired from
their job or calling employers
and falsely reporting that the
victim is undocumented,
and
~ Threatening to hurt children
or take them away if the police
are contacted.
How TEACH is Helping
TEACH is collaborating with
Pillars’ Constance Morris House
to provide one-on-one tutoring
and cultural mentoring to limited
English speaking survivors of
domestic violence trying
to transition into independence.
TEACH’s tutoring will be
focused on gaining language
skills to empower these women
to obtain gainful employment,
advocate for themselves and
their families, and become self-reliant.
No other such collaborations
are known to exist.
